Clásica de San Sebastián 2022: The Route

Saturday 30 July - At 224.8 kilometres, the Clásica de San Sebastián is played out in the steep hills of the Basque Country. The finale includes a 2.1 kilometres drag at 10.1% before a flying descent into San Sebastián.

The race sets off from Donostia, as the Basques prefer to call San Sebastián. In fact, the Basque name of the race is Donostiako Klasikoa.

Following a rolling section of almost 60 kilometres the climbing kicks in hard at the Azkarate: 4.3 kilometres at 7.3%. The route then descends to the foot of the Urraki (8.6 kilometres at 6.9%) and on it goes to the Alkiza (4.4 kilometres at 6.2%).

An undulating phase of roughly 50 kilometres takes the riders to the Jaizkibel, which is a staple climb at the Clásica de San Sebastián. The route ascends 6.9 kilometres with an average gradient of 6.2%, although that statistic is biased by several false flat sections – notably at the beginning and halfway.

Roughly 7 kilometres after the descent the riders hit the Erlaitz, a brutal climb of 3.8 kilometres at 10.6%. The route does not go down straight away, but 4 kilometres later, with roughly 40 kilometres to go.

The first passage on the line happens with 18 kilometres remaining. The route continues to the steep ramps of the Murgil’s climb. The wall-like obstacle was first included in 2014. The Murgil Tontorra, as the Basques say, has an average slope of 10.1% and the length is 2.1 kilometres. The climb peaks out at 22%.

Only 7.3 kilometres remaining at the top. First a false flat and then a technical descent into San Sebastián before the last 3 kilometres are played out on the wide and flat boulevards along the coast.

Another interesting read: results 2022 Clásica de San Sebastián.